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SEPTEMBER 2020
Legally Brief With Kevin Patrick Automobile accidents | Daycare injuries | wrongful death
Say Hello to Our Newest Hire! MEET SHARON MERCER AND HER LOYAL PUP, CHARLIE
Can you believe that it’s September already? With all of the craziness of the pandemic, this summer has just flown by. But now that September has arrived, I’d like to celebrate it. Labor Day is coming up, and my staff deserves a shoutout for their hard work. admirably, taking remote work, virtual appointments, and other changes in stride. They’ve all been fantastic, but in particular, I’ve been impressed by our new hire, Sharon Mercer. Sharon has been helping us with cases for years as needed, but she came on full time in March, just as the pandemic hit. Our whole team has rolled with the punches of the pandemic In the spirit of Labor Day, I thought I’d let Sharon take over this newsletter and share a bit about herself, her work, and her senior dog, Charlie. Hey there readers, it’s Sharon here! I’m so glad to “meet” you all. Probably the first thing you should know about me is that I’ve been working in personal injury law, workers’ compensation, and estate planning for about 20 years (there goes my age!). I’ve known Kevin for four years, and he’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. I started doing side work for the firm in 2019, and we got on so well that this March Kevin offered me a full-time job as firm administrator. Of course, I had to say yes! The law firm life fell in my lap when I was just 22 years old, and I wound up working for some of those big law firms you see on TV. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the work there, but those firms didn’t have the
client focus that Kevin Patrick Law does. Some of them were so high-volume that it started to feel like I was working at a McDonald's drive-thru, just trying to get clients in and out as fast as possible. That didn’t sit right with me — I wanted to take my time with each client and show them how much I cared. I’m a six- year breast cancer survivor, and going through all of that helped me understand the pain and stress our clients experience. The cancer was awful, but I’ve been in excellent health ever since, and it has really helped me empathize with clients and ease them through the recovery process. Luckily, Kevin Patrick Law gives me the time to do just that! I worked remotely from the day I was hired through mid-July, and I still do some days. Honestly, I enjoy it when I can skip the 1.5-hour commute and spend the day with my senior dog, Charlie. Charlie is a Labrador/pit bull mix and he turned 12 in January. He has a chair he sits in when I'm in the office working from home. He looks out the window and guards my life, and he keeps me company all day. Sometimes when I'm on the phone, he decides that he wants to start barking
and carrying on. I told Kevin I think I'm going to fire him because he keeps sleeping on the job, but, of course, I don’t mean it — he’s my right-hand dog! When I’m not working, you can probably find me exploring the North Georgia mountains, volunteering, or spending time with my wonderful 17-year-old daughter. She’s in Junior ROTC, and I help them out with a lot of their fundraisers. There’s something about helping people — whether I’m on the clock or off — that just makes me feel good inside. I’m sure you can relate! I’m looking forward to working with you all. Best wishes,
– Sharon Mercer
I couldn’t be happier with Sharon’s work and love the positivity and optimism she brings to the team. The photos she sends me of Charlie are a bonus! Happy Labor Day, Sharon, and thank you for all you do.
This publication is for informational purposes only, and no legal advice is intended.
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4 Decades of Earth, Wind & Fire’s ‘September’ WHAT HAPPENED ON THE 21ST NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER?
Your 4-Legged Friends Made Our Day Thank You for the Pet Photos!
“Do you remember the 21st night of September?”
Back in June, Kevin introduced you to his favorite dog: the University of Georgia mascot, bulldog Uga X. In the spirit of the dog days of summer, he asked you to send in photos of your pets, too. We’re happy to report that you delivered! Meet Teddy and Majesty, two of the cutest four-legged friends sent in. In case you can’t quite tell, Majesty’s shirt says, “I’m not weird, I’m a unicorn” — which is almost too adorable to be allowed.
In 1978, Maurice White of the band Earth, Wind & Fire first asked this question in the song “September,” a funky disco song that quickly topped the charts. While disco may be dead today, “September” certainly
If you missed our request for pet photos, it’s not too late to send them in! Kevin would love to see your best friend. Just send a snapshot to Kevin@PatrickTrialLaw. com, and tell Kevin why your pet makes your day. We just might feature them down the line!
isn’t. The song is still featured in movies, TV shows, and wedding playlists. On Sept. 21, 2019, the funk hit was streamed over 2.5 million times. It’s no wonder that the Los Angeles City Council declared Sept. 21 Earth, Wind & Fire Day. The story behind “September” is almost as enduring as the song itself. It was co-written by White and Allee Willis, who eventually became a Grammy-winning songwriter and Tony nominee. But before any of that, Willis was a struggling songwriter in Los Angeles living off food stamps. When White reached out and asked Willis to help write the next Earth, Wind & Fire hit, it was truly her big break. White and Willis proved to be excellent songwriting partners, but they clashed over one key element of the song: the nonsensical phrase “ba-dee-ya,” which White included in the chorus. Throughout the songwriting process, Willis begged to change the phrase to real words. At the final vocal session, Willis finally demanded to know what ba-dee-ya meant. White replied, “Who cares?” “I learned my greatest lesson ever in songwriting from him,” Willis recalled in a 2014 interview with NPR, “which was never let the lyric get in the way of the groove.” The groove is why “September” has stood the test of time, right from that very first lyric. For decades, people have asked Willis and members of the band about the significance of Sept. 21. As it turns out, there isn’t much beyond the sound. “We went through all the dates: ‘Do you remember the first, the second, the third, the fourth …’ and the one that just felt the best was the 21st,” Willis explained.
The truth is that nothing happened on the 21st night of September — except a whole lot of dancing.
You can always reach Kevin directly at 404.566.8964 or Kevin@PatrickTrialLaw.com. (If you ever need it, his cell phone is 404.409.3160.)
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Is Your Child’s Day Care Safe? 5 Questions to Ask When Choosing Child Care
2. What are your hiring
For the last few months, officials around the country have debated how to reopen public schools. It’s a thorny problem that extends to day cares as well. The pandemic has completely interrupted the sector — some day cares have closed, and others are overflowing with the children of essential workers. If you’re looking for a new day care option for your child because of COVID-19, their health and safety comes first. Here are five questions to ask day cares to ensure your child stays safe from COVID-19, neglect, and other dangers. 1. What COVID-19 precautions is your facility taking? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends disinfecting regularly,
requirements, and how well- trained are your workers?
Uneducated or underqualified workers can put your kids in danger. In Georgia, a day care worker has to be 21 years old and have at least a high school diploma or GED, but additional training will make them more confident and competent on the job. checks on your staff? Background checks are required for day care workers in Georgia. If the facility you’re considering admits it doesn’t run them (or you suspect it), that’s a big red flag. ratio? The more closely your child is supervised in day care, the better! Look for a facility with a low provider/ child ratio, preferably below state requirements. These requirements vary by age, but start at 1 adult per 6 infants.
5. How do you ensure that your toys and playground equipment are safe? Defective, outdated, or hazardous playthings are unfortunately common and can cause illness or injury. When choosing a day care, always ask about the age and condition of these items! These tips should help you choose a safe day care for your kids, but if something goes wrong or you’ve had a bad experience in the past, our team can help. We specialize in getting justice for day care injuries, abuse, and neglect and are always here for you and your children.
3. Do you perform background
4. What is your provider/child
social distancing when possible, and modifying picking and drop off procedures, among other things. To see their complete day care recommendations, visit CDC.gov/ Coronavirus/2019-NCov/Community.
sudoku
Easy Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Who says a loaded potato has to clog your arteries? In this healthy version that serves four, a sweet potato base is topped with fiber-rich bean salsa.
Ingredients • 4 medium sweet potatoes • 1 15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed • 2 medium tomatoes, diced • 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp cumin • 1 tsp coriander • 3/4 tsp salt • 1/4 cup sour cream • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Directions 1. With a fork, prick each sweet potato a few times. Microwave the potatoes on high 12–15 minutes, or until cooked through. 2. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the beans, tomatoes, olive oil, cumin, coriander, and salt. When the potatoes are done, microwave the mixture on high for 2–3 minutes. 3. Cool potatoes slightly, then cut each potato open lengthwise. Pull the halves apart to create space to spoon the warm bean salsa inside. 4. Add a scoop of sour cream to each potato, garnish with cilantro, and serve!
Solution
Inspired by EatingWell.com
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Inside This Issue 1 Meet Sharon Mercer and Her Loyal Pup, Charlie! 2 The Truth Behind the 21st Night of September Client Pet Spotlight: Meet Teddy and Majesty 3 Is Your Child’s Day Care Safe? Easy Stuffed Sweet Potatoes 4 3 Fun Family Activities for Fall
Follow Us @KPatricklaw
Gardening, Gold, and Going Fishing 3 Fun Family Activities for Fall It’s fall, which means social media will soon be saturated with pictures of your friends enjoying “classic” fall activities. Photos of leaf peeping, apple picking, and the occasional scarecrow run rampant. But rather than following the herd, you can make your family the trendsetter of unique fall activities! Here are a few outdoor endeavors your family will love. GET GARDENING. Fall is the time for harvest, but if you want to enjoy flowers in the spring, it’s also a time for planting. The cooler autumn air is easier on plants, but the soil is still warm enough for roots to grow before the ground freezes for winter. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are all spring bulbs that need to be planted in the fall. Do a little research with your family to determine the best time to start planting in your area. PAN FOR GOLD. Here’s one that’s really off the beaten path: Take your family on an adventure panning for gold! Start by planning a road trip out to an old ghost town. Many of them have great tourist attractions that include gold panning. You probably won't get rich, but it will still be a fun story. If you’re not able to make the trip, you can always create a gold panning operation at home! Visit MessForLess.net/panning-for-
gold-activity for a great step-by-step guide on how to go panning for gold in your own backyard. HEAD TO THE FISHING HOLE. Here in Georgia, September is the perfect time for a fishing trip. Whether you prefer to cast your line in a pond, a stream, or off the coast, you can’t go wrong trying your luck in the fall. The weather is almost always cool and pleasant this time of year, and odds are good you’ll snag a fish for supper. Try angling for redfish, trout, black drum, flounder, Atlantic croaker, or whiting on your next trip. Near Atlanta, Sweetwater Creek State Park, Stone Mountain Lake, and High Falls State Park are some of our favorite spots.
Spend this fall outdoors and create great new memories with your family!
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